Intuit and Google get together on QuickBooks

In a move that seems like a win-win for both companies, Google and Intuit are partnering to give small business owners the ability to create AdWords ad campaigns, get their businesses listed on Google Maps, and selling products via Google Base. Under the terms of a deal announced today, small businesses buying QuickBooks 2007 will have access to a number Google features from within the software.

Along with easy access to Google features, QuickBooks 2007 will also come bundled with Google Desktop. A tweak in the search application will ensure that QuickBooks data can only be accessed by Google Desktop when the search is initiated from within QuickBooks.

According to Google, less than half of businesses using QuickBooks have any sort of online presence. The search giant hopes to change that by creating simple "notecard" pages for such companies, as AdWord click-throughs need somewhere to go. QuickBooks 2007 users will be able to easily create AdWords accounts with information supplied by the application, and will receive a $50 credit towards Google services.

"By adding key Google services into the world's most popular accounting product, we're making it easier than ever for small businesses to find and use all of the tools available to them," said Google CEO Eric Schmidt.